This week's progress

So I just wanted to give a quick progress report for the week. I missed the Zoo run over the weekend because I had to do some work for my Stroller Strides business and work at the shoe store.

I just got off the treadmill and did 5 miles. I did it in about an hour and fifteen minutes. I ran the first part of it and then my shin started hurting. So I walked the last two miles. I feel pretty good about it and plan on continuing to increase my speed. I just hope that my legs can take it. I've never had shin splints, but I think that I am starting to understand what people who have had them are talking about. I'll have to remember to take some drugs before I start next time.

Now I'm really behind!

This week has not been good. I've only worked out 3 times and the Zoo Run is tomorrow. One of the girls has a major case of pink eye and is on 2 kinds of antibiotic trying to keep it from getting worse. So I can't go to the Y and check her in, since she's still contagious. My husband has been out of town since Tuesday, which is very unusual. Actually, he's just been at the Hilton downtown, but he might as well be in CA! He hasn't been here! The worst thing is I'm planning this silly little 50's Sock Hop at my oldest daughter's elementary school (Feb 8). At the committee meeting on Tuesday, one other person showed up. I don't know anything about putting togehter a dance for 500-700 people by myself. Just a little stressed! Running has actually helped the stress level! Okay, enough complaining. I'll get out there tomorrow and be the only one in our group who can't run 3 miles in one strecth. Go ahead, great friends, laugh at me! I love you anyway!

Long Awaited Photos

Hello everyone,

I was finally able to upload the pictures from the Bikini Marathon we all recently completed (wink, wink, nudge, nudge). I know EVERYONE is excited about seeing photos of all of us. And - if I do say so myself - we look fantastic!

Robyn, Lisa & Susan

Katie

Shelley

Mall Run

Shelley, Katie, and I got together this morning at Opry Mills mall to run at 8am indoors since it is freezing today outside. I thought it was great!! It is one mile to go all the way around, so it was easy to know how far we had gone. We all walked one mile together and then started running. We ended up doing 3 miles each, all at different paces. I have longer legs and run at a faster pace so I was out ahead. Once we had all finished, then we walked another mile around making it a 5 mile day. I felt great afterwards and really pumped when I got home. It makes it so much easier to run with other people!! And it was great to run on a different surface than a treadmill. I wasn't sure how I would do having to make myself run as opposed to the treadmill keeping my pace. Up next, the Zoo fun run!! I hope it isn't freezing next weekend :)

Back on Track

I hit a bit of a speed bump in my training last week when I got super sick on Wednesday. I knew something wasn't right when I actually said NO to going to the 1st See Mommy Run meeting on Tuesday night. My head was splitting and that was just the tip of the ice burg. When I was finally out of bed on Thursday morning, I got on the scale and had lost 8lbs! Yes, it was that rough of a Wednesday for me!

I didn't do anything on Thursday and then taught my Stroller Strides class baby-free on Friday. I felt pretty dizzy the whole time and made it through without passing out. The weekend and Monday went by and I didn't get back on the treadmill. So I finally got back on tonight. I did 2 miles in just under 30 minutes. I have obviously suffered a set back, but am back on my way to completing the 13.1 miles in one day.

Go Mommy, go Mommy!

I have been faithfully running on my treadmill at least every other night if not more since the first of the year. I thought after running for a week or 5 days of the week that it would start to feel easier and that I wouldn't be struggling to finish 2 miles. I was getting discouraged by how tired I felt. BUT, now I have had the breakthrough that I have been looking for!! I ran 3.1 miles last night which has to be the longest distance that I have ever run non-stop in my life. I wasn't even too winded when I got done either. And I ran just under 11 min miles. I am feeling really pumped now and got the boost that I needed. I guess now I need to try running outside! :)

1st Team Meeting!

Yoohoo! We had our first "official" team meeting last night. Granted, it did include some food and beverages probably NOT on our 1/2 marathon training eating plan, but we talked about running so surely that burned a few calories - right?

Anyway, we are going to do a BIG run/walk/crawl once every two weeks and then those of us that live closer to each other will train together on the off weekends.

We also had our picture taken last night, so as soon as I photoshop that sucker to make us all look like the supermodels we are then I'll post it on here.

Edited to Add: Our team motto?

"If Katie Holmes can do a full marathon then we can do a 1/2 marathon!"

I can't believe I am going to run a half marathon

I had my twins almost 19 months ago to the day. They were born July 3rd of 2006. I gained a whopping 90+ lbs. and have been trying to whittle it down ever since. I've never actually successfully lost weight in my life until just recently. I started taking a Stroller Strides class and then decided to open my own franchise in my area. It has probably been the best "job" I've ever had and I've continued to steadily slim down.

I started talking about my whole "new fit attitude" with Shelly a few weeks ago at our local Chicfila. (Yes, I had just downed some of those tasty waffle fries and nuggets!) I had just heard about the http://seemommyrun.com website from some a Stroller Strides posts and Shelly started talking about it. It was one of those moments when two completely different worlds intersect and there had to be some sort of purpose behind it. I guess that's the story of how I got myself into this Half Marathon.

I teach an exercise class 3 times a week and you'd think I'd have a fitness advantage, but you are sadly mistaken. I really need to kick it into high gear and move from walking fast on the treadmill to actually jogging. I'll be sure to keep anyone out there that might be reading this posted on my progress.

Oh No! I'm already behind Robyn!

Okay, so it's January 5. I've started walking and running a little bit, but I'm certainly not running 2 or 3 miles a day like Robyn! Oh well. She's younger and more organized than I am!
I'll catch her before the Zoo run at the end of the month.

This is really something we've gotten ourselves into. I'm excited and scared all at the same time. I know I need to do this to get myself in shape and loose some weight, and I've got wonderful teammates! We'll do it together.

The amazing thing about Shelley, Susan and Robyn is that I've known them for at least 4 years and they're all terrific! Katie's terrific too, but her kids are younger, so I haven't known her as long. This is going to be tough, but we'll have fun doing it. This is one of those things you talk about doing, but never really do.

Actually, after the Music City Marathon last year, I realized how many people I knew that ran the half marathon. 3 of my best friends ran it in under 3 hours! I told my DH that one of my friends had challenged me to run with her this year, and he laughed at me. (Very supportive, isn't he?). So, while I'm doing this to get in shape, I'm also doing this to show him I can. . . yes, to prove him so, so wrong!!!

I'm new to blogging too, but I write like I talk (so I've been told). You can be the judge of that.

New to Blogging and Running

So, I have never blogged before tonight. I must be one of the last people who have never blogged. I have also never text messaged someone, but that is a different story. So, here I am writing my first blog.

I am really excited about our running group, mostly because we are all moms of multiples. These women are some of my absolute best friends and I would not be where I am today without their friendship and support. I am a mother of 5 year old triplets who has decided to do something for myself. I have never been a runner, but thought that this would be a great way to get some exercise and some peace and quiet. Like most other moms out there, I find that I take care of everyone else around me before myself. Now that my kids are at an age where they can do most things for themselves it is time for me to do something for me. I am frightened out of my mind, but know with the support of my friends and family that I can do this.

I started my training on Dec 31st. I am starting slow because I know that I cannot run 3 miles yet. My first 2 days I ran 2 miles on a treadmill. I took Wed off and tonight I ran 2.5 miles which I was really proud of!! My biggest issue is getting out of bed in the morning, esp when it is cold outside. If I could find a way to just pop out of bed, this would be so much easier!! I am hoping to contribute to this blog on a regular basis as it really will help to hold me accountable to myself and my teammates. I can't wait to read everyone's posts!!

Hello & Welcome to our Wacky World

I've been postponing doing this initial blog post as I had hoped to create some wonderfully witty prose about the five of us participating in this crazy team. Well, having a life with multiple birth children (twins, triplets, or more - oh my) in it makes for a busy day, week, month, year...you get the gist. There is just never going to be that "perfect" time to get this blog going so I said heck with it and now you're reading this as it is - faults and all.

You see, all the members of this team have twins (three of us) or triplets (two of us). We are all members of the Parents of Twins and Triplets Organization (POTATO - hence our Hot POTATO team name). We are not amazing athletes, Olympic competitors or Iron Man contenders, but we are strong, capable women and we are DETERMINED to finish the Country Music 1/2 Marathon in April. We may be crawling across that finish line, but - by golly (we are Southern and talk like that a LOT) - we WILL make it across that finish line.

Also, training for this huge endeavor helps give us some much needed time away from our twins & triplets. We need a break people!

So, having said all that, we plan on posting on this site as much as possible. We are working on our individual and group training schedules now and plan on taking pictures of all of us together soon. We also are participating in a 5K (the Zoo Run Run) at the end of January which should be fun (or awful, or a sick combination of both).

Enjoy!